Expressed by the liver and secreted in plasma. Alpha-1-microglobulin occurs in many physiological fluids including plasma, urine, and cerebrospinal fluid. Inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor is present in plasma and urine.

The precursor is proteolytically processed into separately functioning proteins.3-hydroxykynurenine, an oxidized tryptophan metabolite that is common in biological fluids, reacts with Cys-53, Lys-111, Lys-137, and Lys-149 to form heterogeneous polycyclic chromophores including hydroxanthommatin. The reaction by alpha-1-microglobulin is autocatalytic; the human protein forms chromophore even when expressed in insect and bacterial cells. The chromophore can react with accessible cysteines forming non-reducible thioether cross-links with other molecules of alpha-1-microglobulin or with other proteins such as Ig alpha-1 chain C region 'Cys-352'.Heavy chains are interlinked with bikunin via a chondroitin 4-sulfate bridge to the their C-terminal aspartate.Addition of glycosaminoglycan chondroitin sulfate, allows cross-linking between the different components.

Thank you for your inquiry and I sincerely apologize for the delay in this reply.
We cleared up the confusion about this protein and I would like to update you.
Product ab98986 consists of two components:
1. Bikunin, 30.7 kDa, aa. 206-...